FULL-TIME: Crystal Palace 2, Bristol City 1

YANNICK Bolasie clearly knew a thing or two when he opted to leave Bristol City to join Crystal Palace at the start of the season.

If the winger’s decision appeared open to question when City thrashed the Eagles 4-1 at Ashton Gate back in August, much has changed since then.

Palace have since emerged as one of the most exciting teams in the Championship and Ian Holloway has picked up where previous manager Dougie Freedman left off to keep the south London side on course for promotion to the Premier League.

And Bolasie has become a leading light in the Selhurst Park revival, playing more regularly than he ever did at City and realising the potential that persuaded former Robins boss Keith Millen, now assistant at Palace, to buy him from Plymouth Argyle 18 months ago.

On the evidence of this one-sided contest, Bolasie’s judgment is proving to be spot on. Up against a City side struggling near the foot of the table and without an away point in 2013, the Eagles did not even need to be at their best to win comfortably.

Prolific goal-scorer Glenn Murray opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a powerful header and substitute Stephen Dobbie doubled the lead direct from a free kick five minutes after coming off the bench in the 61st minute to make sure of the points for a Palace side that has not lost at home since August.

City were handed a potential lifeline when Palace defender Jonathan Parr headed into his own net deep in time added on, but it proved too little too late.

Although the visitors held their own during the opening exchanges, it was Palace who carried the more potent threat on the counter-attack and City were utterly undone by Murray’s perfectly-weighted through ball for overlapping right-back Jazz Richards, whose angled shot beat Heaton and crept inside the far post. But south London cheers quickly turned to jeers as a linesman’s raised flag wiped the goal out.

Encouraged by that near miss, the Eagles came within a hairs’ breadth of breaking the deadlock moments later, Bolasie beating Heaton all ends up with an audacious overhead kick that came back off the underside of the cross bar.

But City’s luck finally ran out 11 minutes before half time when the home side profited from a piece of quick-thinking on the part of Mile Jedinak.

Referee Simon Hooper awarded a free kick on halfway and the Australian midfielder took it quickly, directing the ball over a desperately back-tracking Liam Fontaine for Murray to head his 28th goal of the season from the edge of the six yard box.

As goals go, it was a real sucker punch, leaving the visitors to rue a momentary lapse in concentration which bordered on the naïve. Instead of trying to delay the free kick, City’s players retreated, enabling their opponents to go from halfway to the back of the net with two touches.

While it remained 1-0, the Robins were still in with a chance and Stead, who had spent much of the night trying to controls balls up around his neck, finally benefitted from some decent service, only to lift his shot high over the bar from 20 yards out.

Outstanding against Boro at the weekend, England international Zaha extracted precious little change out of Cunningham and was withdrawn on the hour mark along with Wales Under-21 midfielder Jonathan Williams. In a typically positive move, Eagles boss Holloway sent on strikers Dobbie and Kevin Phillips in search of a second goal and some breathing space.

It proved an inspired move, Dobbie extending the home side’s lead within five minutes of coming on. Once again City were undone by a free kick, the former Swansea and Blackpool man beating Heaton with a brilliant 25 yard strike that eluded the defensive wall and found the top left-hand corner of the net.

City boss Sean O’Driscoll responded by introducing a second striker in the form of Steven Davies, but the damage had already been done and the visitors were now chasing the game.

At no stage did City really pass the ball well enough to inconvenience Palace, a failing that characterised their performance against Cardiff three days earlier and they finished well beaten.

17 comments

I agree with marmeliser and dazzyboy...why play 4-5-1???? I know we are away from home but seriously...DM did that with largely the same players and it didn't work...stick two up top one in behind and go all out to win...AA has to play as do Davies and Baldock...we need goals and we need to attack to get them...we gave too much respect to both Cardiff and Palace!!
Everyone around us...with the exception of Wolves...are fighting for their lives! Posh stick 5 past Milwall at the Den...we can only dream of a result! Barnsley have a worst squad than us yet they are putting a shift in!!
Again it is up to the players...do they want NPC next year or Div 3??? The board and manager have played all their cards...if any of the players have time to read this...THE FANS OF BRISTOL CITY WANT CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL NEXT SEASON and with the support we give you boys we deserve it!!!

Apologies, I got the F & A the wrong way around.
Injuries permitting, I'd go for this line up v Barnsley who are currently the 4th best team away from hoe in the NPC
........................................HEATON......................................
..........CAREY....................FONTAINE..................NYATANGA....................
MOLONEY............KILKENNY.........SKUSE............HOWARD.............CUNNINGHAM.....
..................................STEAD...............BALDOCK...........................
SUBS
GERKEN
DAVIES
BURNS
ANDERSON
ADOMAH
ELLIOTT
WILSON J
If Baldock & Carey are injured, then I'd give Davies & James Wilson starts or maybe give Burns his debut.If Moloney's out then Foster.If we wanted to go gung ho then Albert could play there but that's probably a bridge to far.
Now watch SOD stick with Pearson, Kelly & Elliott-Our non passing and non creative midfield!!

We set up to be hard to beat away.
We aren't as the last four results have shown.The facts are very simple:
P4 W0 D0 L4 F7 A2 Pts 0 GD -5.
Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome and if McInnes had done this the knives would have been out.
Why is it the home wins are down to him but the away defeats have nothing to do with him according to some?
Rethink Away or Relegation, Sean as winning 100% at home isn't likely.

so, yet again it's squeaky bum time. I've unpacked my brown underwear and shorts.
@marmeliser, you're completely right.
Young players never get a game at BCFC. Why? If they have the ability they must play, and you can guarantee that the opposition have no clue who they are or what they can do. We might even win a game. I've made this point so many times I want to puke. F F S ship them out or play them.
I am afraid that we will go down this year. If we don't I will eat my brown underwear and trousers.

Iainta99er--Champers on ice more like Meths.
Another bad result , really can not afford many more, already becoming detached. Home win on Saturday is essential , as long as three points are forthcoming from home games , City can hang in there and maintain the pressure on the teams above , some are bound to crack , as long as City are within 6 points of safety relegation can still be avoided though it remains a tall order.

Just got home after staying in Croydon, was astonished to read the above report. Where did the reporter see the game ... Ashton Gate press box????? Murray's reported header was a right foot volley. I knew that from the Holmesdale Stand 150 yards away. If in doubt look at the highlights on Player. Still getting things wrong as the Post were when I worked at BUP 20 years ago.

the last two results have flattered us score wise, two own goals by palace and cardiff just about summed it up. there weakness along the back four has been clear to all for the last three seasons. sadly tables dont lie and we are bottom due to poor management (not o"driscoll) and some very higly over paid players who are not of championship standard!. think we"ll be ok in divison 1 under o"driscoll but plenty of dead wood needs to be shown the door. keeping the faith as always UP THE CITY!.

I agree with you Marmeliser, I am not blaming SOD but the mentality seems to not get beat rather lets go and win and go for three points!! we are in a position where we need three points, and even in tough games like Cardiff and Palace lets not go there to keep it tight hopefully not concede and then hopefully get one on the break, because the chances of that are slim!! Its **** or bust time!!
There is a lack of creativity in the midfield, give a Howard a start and like it or not Kilkenny is our other most capable playmaker. Steve Davies is our most likey goalscorer was on the bench last night, and lets get some pace up top with young Burns. Give Reid and Bryan a go because we have got as much chance of staying up with them in the team, as players like Kelly and Pearson!!!